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But he dismissed suggestions of an organised paedophile ring, saying: “We are dealing with an incredibly large number of allegations. We need to begin working our way through these. It may be that patterns and associations will emerge.

“A lot of it focuses around the home but a lot of it is people who knew each other and are of a similar inclination.

“I don’t think at present we are talking about an organised conspiracy.”

Asked about political links to the scandal, he said: “It’s certain a small number of people who are being named did have some official connection with the Jersey establishment and it would be astonishing if there were not.

“This is a small island where many people are in the establishment.”

He said former child inmates had come forward to tell how they were locked in a “deep, dark” place – which police believe is the cellar they are excavating - where they were visited by their abusers.

“Children talk about being kept locked in a deep dark place and being brought out from time to time for the purpose of abuse,” he said.

“They were subjected to serious physical and sexual abuse.

“It seems to me, if the allegations are true, that’s torture enough.”

He added that there had been “a handful” of reports of children going missing and police are now checking records of those staying at the home during the times in question.

“There are no allegations of children being murdered,” he said.

Some children report that children that they knew disappeared and no explanation was given.

“It’s simply a fact of life that children sometimes run away so these disappearances may have a perfectly innocent explanation.”